Bruce Matthews

Bruce Matthews shuns attention, but it's getting harder for the Tennessee Titan to stay anonymous. Matthews has been elected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and is among the most versatile offensive lineman in NFL history. Sunday, he'll make his 260th start, the most ever for an offensive lineman. In typical fashion, Matthews plays down the accomplishment, crediting good fortune.

Michael Irvin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday despite a troubled past, but voters denied entry to retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The former Dallas Cowboys receiver, who won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, got in on his third try. Also voted in were running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, defensive back Roger Wehrli and two nominees of the veterans' committee -- tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Gene Hickerson.

He's an offensive lineman, so who really cares at a time like this, when quarterback Kurt Warner is better than any Disney character ever imagined? But Bruce Matthews is really very old, and so that's why he's a Super Bowl story and is surrounded by a bunch of reporters. He's so old, his former college teammate is now his head coach with the Tennessee Titans. So old that his former teammate with the Houston Oilers--the pre-move Titans--is his offensive line coach.

This morning, a selection committee, mostly sportswriters, will gather in a meeting room near the site of the Super Bowl in Miami. Among the things they will consider, and will announce later today, is whether to welcome a big man, strong as a bull and soft as a teddy bear, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bruce Matthews will be home in Houston, pretending not to think about it. "It's OK either way," Matthews said this week. "In some regards, I'm very excited.

Former USC lineman Bruce Matthews, who has played for the Houston Oilers since they drafted him No. 1 in 1983, sued the club and the National Football League for $10 million Thursday. At the same time, Matthews, a holdout this season, fired the first bullet in what could be a new players' war against the league by asking the U.S. District Court here to declare him a free agent.

Houston Oilers All-Pro guard Bruce Matthews has signed a four-year contract extension that will make him one of the best-paid offensive linemen in the NFL. Matthews will not say how much the deal is worth, but the Houston Chronicle reported today that the agreement eventually will make Matthews the Oilers' first $1 million-a-year lineman. He signed the contract extension during the weekend.

This morning, a selection committee, mostly sportswriters, will gather in a meeting room near the site of the Super Bowl in Miami. Among the things they will consider, and will announce later today, is whether to welcome a big man, strong as a bull and soft as a teddy bear, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bruce Matthews will be home in Houston, pretending not to think about it. "It's OK either way," Matthews said this week. "In some regards, I'm very excited.

Michael Irvin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday despite a troubled past, but voters denied entry to retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The former Dallas Cowboys receiver, who won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, got in on his third try. Also voted in were running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, defensive back Roger Wehrli and two nominees of the veterans' committee -- tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Gene Hickerson.

When Darrell Green and Bruce Matthews were drafted in the spring of 1983, Ronald Reagan was midway through his first term as the President of the United States.This Sunday, Green and Matthews will join a select group of players to play in 19 seasons with one team. *--* Player Position Team Seasons Years Jackie Slater Tackle Rams 20 1976-1995 Jim Marshall Def. end Minnesota 19 1961-1979 Darrell Green Cornerback Washington 19 1983-present Bruce Matthews Guard Houston/Tenn.

He's an offensive lineman, so who really cares at a time like this, when quarterback Kurt Warner is better than any Disney character ever imagined? But Bruce Matthews is really very old, and so that's why he's a Super Bowl story and is surrounded by a bunch of reporters. He's so old, his former college teammate is now his head coach with the Tennessee Titans. So old that his former teammate with the Houston Oilers--the pre-move Titans--is his offensive line coach.

Bruce Matthews shuns attention, but it's getting harder for the Tennessee Titan to stay anonymous. Matthews has been elected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and is among the most versatile offensive lineman in NFL history. Sunday, he'll make his 260th start, the most ever for an offensive lineman. In typical fashion, Matthews plays down the accomplishment, crediting good fortune.

Houston Oilers All-Pro guard Bruce Matthews has signed a four-year contract extension that will make him one of the best-paid offensive linemen in the NFL. Matthews will not say how much the deal is worth, but the Houston Chronicle reported today that the agreement eventually will make Matthews the Oilers' first $1 million-a-year lineman. He signed the contract extension during the weekend.

Former USC lineman Bruce Matthews, who has played for the Houston Oilers since they drafted him No. 1 in 1983, sued the club and the National Football League for $10 million Thursday. At the same time, Matthews, a holdout this season, fired the first bullet in what could be a new players' war against the league by asking the U.S. District Court here to declare him a free agent.

One of London's most spectacular fires in years Tuesday destroyed a giant warehouse belonging to news baron Rupert Murdoch and sparked a war of words between his company and fired printers over who set it. As he surveyed damage estimated at $9 million to the riverside newsprint-storage building, Bruce Matthews, managing director of Murdoch's News International parent company, blamed it on sabotage by printers Murdoch fired four months ago in a dispute over new technology .